Fargo Moorhead is poised to take the next steps in a positive
economic evolution, according to civic and education leaders who spoke
during the Greater Fargo Moorhead Economic Development Corporation
(GFMEDC) annual Report to Investors meeting today in Fargo.
Speakers at the event focused on the potential for Fargo Moorhead
that can result from full implementation of the Cass/Clay Economic
Plan.
North Dakota Gov. John Hoeven, the meeting's keynote speaker,
touched on the state's Centers of Excellence program and other economic
development issues. His speech followed presentations by Dr. C.
Satishchandran, professor of pharmaceutical science at North Dakota
State University (NDSU); Tim Flakoll, Tri-College University provost;
and Shawn Dobberstein, executive director of the Fargo Municipal
Airport Authority.
Satishchandran has been named director of the newest N.D. Center
of Excellence, the Center for Biopharmaceutical Research at NDSU. A
nationally renowned entrepreneur, vaccine researcher and vaccine
developer, he previously was the chief technology officer of the
Nucleic Acid-Based Therapeutics Division of Pfizer's Biotherapeutics
Division.
Vaccine development and smart technologies are two key industry
sectors targeted in the Cass/Clay Economic Development Plan. The GFMEDC
and its community, business and education partners developed the plan
over the past three years. The plan is designed to facilitate economic
growth and help create good, high- paying jobs by developing a critical
mass of intellectual capacity, research expertise and university
specialization in those two specialized areas.
"There is immense potential for vaccine development in the Fargo
Moorhead community," said Satishchandran. "There is already a strong
base of biopharmaceutical activity here and the universities are
collaborating to build a complementary curriculum. With the knowledge
and expertise of graduate and faculty researchers, this Center will be
a catalyst for making Fargo Moorhead one of the country's vaccine
development leaders." He added that his goal is to develop and take to
market at least one new vaccine within the Center's first five years,
with at least one more every year thereafter.
Flakoll is leading a committee with the GFMEDC and representatives
from Tri- College University, Concordia College, Minnesota State
University Moorhead and North Dakota State University that is
developing the collaborative and complementary curriculum in vaccine
development.
Another pillar of the Cass/Clay Economic Plan focuses on improving
air service and fare structures for the community's businesses and
individual travelers. The Fargo Municipal Airport Authority, under
Dobberstein's direction, has been instrumental in securing new and
expanded service from a variety of airlines that have linked Fargo
Moorhead to new hubs around the world. In addition, the increased
competition has contributed to keeping fares competitive.
The GFMEDC strives to enhance economies in Cass County, N.D. and
Clay County, Minn. communities by attracting, expanding and retaining
primary-sector businesses. Its primary objective is to facilitate the
creation of primary-sector jobs. A primary-sector business is one that
brings new dollars into a community through the sale of its products
and services outside of the trade area. The primary sector is the
foundation of an economy and the principal driver of economic
development.
